August 14, 2009

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Brother Richard about being part of a project to start a nontheistic community in the Atlanta area. I was definitely interested, and we've been taking our first baby steps. Now it's really getting exciting, so I'll get right to the point!

We think you can find inspiration in music, art, literature, and the beauty of the universe. We want to honor traditions, and celebrate holidays, but without irrational beliefs. We want to teach our children morals and critical thinking by using the great religious stories and parables, but without teaching absurdities. And most of all, we want to enjoy the benefits of community with like-minded individuals. As the old saying goes, why do we have to, “throw the baby out with the bath water?"

So several Atlanta families are starting what we are calling the, “Assembly of Inspiration and Reason,” or AIR for short. It is our goal to provide all the benefits many of us used to get from church, without the superstition.

Here’s our mission statement:

The Assembly of Inspiration and Reason exists to establish, assemble, and foster nontheistic communities; to inspire and edify individuals and families through humanistic philosophy, social interaction, and ceremonial traditions; to promote a naturalistic worldview forged in reason and refined by science; to champion individual liberty and safeguard the separation of church and state; to raise public awareness and acceptance of nontheism.

The actual launch is still several months away, but we are organizing smaller meetings now to get started. If you live in the Atlanta area, and are interested in finding out more, we'll be having our next meeting this Sunday. Here's the info:

6 comments:

AIR is definitely right up our alley. We've been engaged in freethought parenting all along but didn't have a name for it. Our kids are now 20 and 14 and have a very healthy and moral outlook on life and a very healthy suspicion of organized religion. Too bad you are all the way in Lawrenceville. We are in Marietta. I wouldn't mind looking into a Marietta chapter.

My husband and I just discussed recently how much we would like to find a community that would use the best of religion and history without "absurdities" as you put it. Maybe I should check to see what is available in our San Francisco Bay Area. If you know of anything, please let me know!

Raising a Happy Child- I'm not sure of anything off the top of my head, but I'll my eyes opened. Are you a member of Atheist Nexus (or even interested at all)? They have groups for everything. You might be able to find a San Fran group and then find out if they have a meetup. Speaking of meetup, have you checked www.meetup.com ? That's how I found our local meetup where I met everyone that is now becoming AIR.